704 Hauser is an American sitcom that aired on CBS-TV from April to May 1994. A spin-off of All in the Family (the final of several), the series is built around the concept of a black family, the Cumberbatches, moving into the former Queens home of Archie Bunker, years after Bunker sold the house. The All in the Family character Joey Stivic, Archie's grandson, makes an appearance in the first episode.[1]

Contents

Overview

Norman Lear created the series during the time when conservative talk radio was experiencing its initial upswing in popularity in the United States, particularly in the form of Rush Limbaugh. Lear felt that the time was right for a new show to explore some of the issues being discussed, and 704 Hauser was even more explicitly political than All in the Family.

John Amos, a veteran of the earlier Lear sitcom Good Times (itself a spin-off of the All in the Family spin-off Maude), starred as Ernie Cumberbatch, while Lynnie Godfrey played his wife, Rose. T.E. Russell played their live-at-home son, Thurgood Marshall "Goodie" Cumberbatch.[2]

The show featured a reversal of the original All in the Family formula. Ernie and Rose Cumberbatch were blue collar, working class Democrats, while their son Goodie was an assertive conservative activist in the vein of Armstrong Williams, Walter Williams, or Thomas Sowell. To add further conflict, Goodie's girlfriend, played by Maura Tierney, was Jewish.

However, audiences did not respond favourably to the show, which was cancelled after just five episodes (with one more remaining unaired).

Episodes

Series #

Season #

Title

Notes

Original air date

1

1

"Meet the Cumberbatches"

A pair of liberal black parents struggles with their conservative son and his white girlfriend.

April 11, 1994

2

1

"Here's Why Ernie Should Never Be Left Home Alone"

Ernie conspires to find Goodie a new girlfriend.

April 18, 1994

3

1

"Ernie Live on Tape"

Ernie and Goodie disagree over an incident of alleged racial harassment.

April 25, 1994

4

1

"Triskaidekaphobia"

Friday the thirteenth brings bad luck to the Cumberbatches.

May 2, 1994

5

1

"All That Jasmine"

Rose's sister interferes with Ernie's birthday surprise.

May 9, 1994

6

1

"Revelations"

Ernie discovers a master plan to reduce his taxes by becoming a minister.